Munro · Fife & Perthshire
Meall Garbh
Meall Garbh (968m) — "rough hill" — is the central Munro of the Càrn Mairg group above Glen Lyon (this is the Càrn Mairg version, distinct from the Ben Lawers Meall Garbh of similar name). The hill is the second summit reached on the standard four-Munro Invervar horseshoe, with a distinctive boulder-strewn summit area. The connecting ridges to Càrn Gorm (west) and Càrn Mairg (east) cross broad mossy bealachs.
Gaelic: “rounded hill, rough” · Pronunciation: myowl garrav
Quick facts
- Height
- 967.5m/ 3174ft
- Prominence
- 102 m
- Distance
- 17 km
- Ascent
- 851 m
- Time
- 5–8 hrs
- Grid ref
- NN647516
- Parking
- NN666483
- Nearest city
- Perth· 55km
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
Height and prominence cross-checked against the Database of British and Irish Hills (CC BY).
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Standard route
Glen Lyon approach 25% · Open hillside 45% · Ridge walk 30%
See Càrn Gorm or Càrn Mairg for the standard four-Munro Invervar horseshoe round. Meall Garbh is the second summit reached going east from Càrn Gorm, climbed via the broad connecting ridge over the Bealach Coir Iuchanan. The summit boulder marks the high point. Continue east-north-east via Meall a' Bharr (Top) to Càrn Mairg.
Terrain
The links between the four Càrn Mairg tops are broad mossy turf and rocky outcrops — straightforward walking, but undulating with persistent re-ascent. The Meall Garbh summit is unusually bouldery, with the high point marked by a large boulder rather than a built cairn. The bealachs either side are broad and grassy.
In winter
A relatively benign Càrn Mairg group winter Munro. The broad bouldery summit drifts heavily but produces few avalanche-prone slopes. The exposed ridges catch easterly weather. Glen Lyon's narrow road can drift shut in heavy snow. The nearest official avalanche forecast is SAIS Southern Cairngorms. Mobile reception in the glen is decent but disappears on the tops.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow2h 50m
- Edinburgh2h 6m
OS maps: OS Landranger 42, OS Landranger 51
Mobile signal: Reasonable signal at Invervar. Signal thins beyond 800m on the Carn Mairg ridge. Store maps ahead of setting off.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:00
- Sunset
- 21:46
- Civil dawn
- 04:06
- Civil dusk
- 22:41
NOAA Solar Calculator · 23 July 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Meall Garbh.
Around Meall Garbh on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Rannoch station
Rannoch Moor — remote West Highland Line stop; Schiehallion approach via bus
24km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Aberfeldy
Loch Tay base — Ben Lawers, Tarmachan ridge, Birks of Aberfeldy
21km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Aberfeldy
Aberfeldy — heart of Dewar's blends; honey-and-heather Highland style
21km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Meall Garbh — common questions
- How difficult is Meall Garbh?
- Meall Garbh carries a 3/5 (moderately challenging) grade on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Count on about 17km, 851m of ascent and a 5-8 hour day on the standard route. Underfoot: The links between the four Càrn Mairg tops are broad mossy turf and rocky outcrops — straightforward walking, but undulating with persistent re-ascent.
- What is Meall Garbh's prominence?
- 102m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Meall Garbh to the next higher ground.
- Where do I park for Meall Garbh?
- Most walkers start from NN666483. Verify the grid reference on an OS map before you set off — space is tight on busy summer weekends.
- When is the best time to climb Meall Garbh?
- May, June, July, August, September, October give the most reliable conditions on Meall Garbh. Beyond that window the high ground turns wintry: carry full mountain kit, be confident navigating, and check the SAIS avalanche forecast for the area.
- Is Meall Garbh dog-friendly?
- Yes, but dogs must be kept on a lead — there is livestock or ground-nesting bird interest on the route.
- Is there mobile signal on Meall Garbh?
- Reasonable signal at Invervar. Signal thins beyond 800m on the Carn Mairg ridge. Store maps ahead of setting off.
- Is Meall Garbh safe in winter?
- A relatively benign Càrn Mairg group winter Munro. The broad bouldery summit drifts heavily but produces few avalanche-prone slopes. The exposed ridges catch easterly weather. Glen Lyon's narrow road can drift shut in heavy snow. The nearest official avalanche forecast is SAIS Southern Cairngorms. Mobile reception in the glen is decent but disappears on the tops.
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